The historic route, although comprised of several roads now, is still clearly marked and has come to symbolise freedom and adventure. It was along this road that many families travelled during the great depression to seek a better life in California, as captured by Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath. Bound up with a nostalgic view of old-time America and the great American dream, it has thus earned its nickname of ‘the mother road’.

Running all the way from Chicago on the tip of the eastern Great Lakes to LA on the west coast of California, the road was one of the USAs first highways and was opened in 1926. The variety of iconic American landscape is what makes the route appeal to many, winding from the sunshine coast of California through the canyon lands of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas before leading into cowboy country Oklahoma and Kansas, Missouri and Illinois further east. Route 66 holidays come in several forms, and whether you rent an open topped Cadillac, take the journey on a touring coach or set out on an epic cycle tour, it’s sure to be one of the most memorable journeys of your life.

‘Get Your Kicks on Route 66’ confirmed the road to the musical halls of fame in 1946. The song, covered by some of America’s greats including Nat King Cole, Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones, captures the essence of why the road has gained such a high status in American culture. It symbolises the great journey, adventure and freedom. Winding past dust-bowl villages and tumbledown truck stops, it is a journey through America’s history and a symbol of ‘the good old days’, which explains why it has captured the imagination of so many artists and producers over the past century.

Whether it is for a quick city break or a more relaxing extended tour, one of the best ways to enjoy the wide range of attractions that this country has to offer is to travel to Italy by train. The Italian rail system is one of the best in the world and takes in the splendid locations and scenery the country has to offer.

Where to depart from

In terms of departure points, starting your journey on home soil has never been easier. You can start your train journey to Italy from London St Pancras International, travelling via Eurostar through France before arriving at this fantastic country.

Where to go

A particular favourite with rail enthusiasts are journeys to the three great Italian lakes of Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda. Lake Como has been a popular destination for more than 200 years whilst Lake Maggiore is situated close to the famous Centovalli Railway.

Holidays to Lake Garda have a long history due to the presence of thermal springs, which have drawn visitors wishing to sample their reputed health-giving properties for many years. Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy and has Scandinavian-like views of mountains rising from the water’s edge, resembling the great fjords of Northern Europe.

What to do

The best way to make the most of Lake Garda is to take one of the many cruises around the waters where you can witness the scenic villages dotted between the mountains and the lakeside shore.

Nearby the Grotte di Catullo has the remains of the largest Roman villa in Europe and the town of Malcesine is a short trip north from the eastern shore, where the lake truly takes on the look of a classic Norwegian fjord with an especially narrow stretch of water. The classically Italian old town is dominated by an imposingly wonderful example of a 13th century Italian castle: Rocca Scaligera.

Monte Baldo is Lake Garda’s highest mountain whose summit is over seventeen hundred metres in altitude and which is easily accessible by a cable car ride. This provides magnificent panoramic views of the lake, the surrounding mountains and the Val d’Adige; the valley of the river which flows through the nearby city of Verona.

Overall, Lake Garda is a fantastic destination which is only enhanced by visiting it by train. Offering a chance to witness this beautiful scenery in luxury and relaxation, rail journeys across Italy are certainly recommended for those looking for a unique holiday option.

Selling Online

Have a search around the house for things to sell. We all collect clutter or have things we don’t use anymore which may fetch a tidy sum on auction sites such as eBay. All sorts of things can be sold in this way, such as exercise equipment, clothes, furniture and ornaments. You can also check out alternative sites such as Gumtree or Amazon.

Sell unused DVDs, CDs and games though websites such as Music Magpie, which will provide an upfront quote for your items.

Car Boot Sales

If you can’t wait for buyers to find you, then why not go to them? Take a pitch at a car-boot sale to sell all your unwanted goods. As the day progresses you can reduce your prices if necessary or offer everything on your pitch as a job lot to other traders.

Making Money from Hobbies

If you have a hobby which involves making creative items you could sell your goods to others through social-networking sites, craft fairs or work contacts. There are also websites where you can create your own craft shop to sell your products. Sellable craft items include cards, scrap book albums, candles, jewellery and knitted goods.

Extra Work

Working as a film or TV extra is a great part-time job and you can earn around £80 per day. Weekend working is quite common so this is a job which you can fit in around your existing work commitments. Production companies hire extras through agencies. You will be asked to sign up online and upload photos of yourself to the site along with details of your availability. Companies can then search the database to find suitable people to fill their vacancies. The hours can be quite long so you should be prepared for plenty of waiting around.

Sell Your Skills

Do you love kids? Then offer your babysitting services to friends and neighbours. If you love dogs there are lots of busy people who will pay a walker to take their dog out for them or look after them while they are away. You could also provide a house-sitting service or offer to do cleaning.

Leaflet your area or put cards in the windows of your local newsagent. There are also many different agencies who will find work for you and deal with payment. In return, they will take a small commission from your earnings.

Once you have started to make some extra cash, the most important thing to do is to set it aside for your holiday. If you have the time you can make your money go further by putting it into an Isa or high-interest savings account.

All is not lost however, with the following six suggestions you’ll be kept entertained and you will have arrived before you know it. Just because you’re on a plane, it doesn’t mean you have to surrender hours of your life to a less then average film- or attempt to sleep for the 10^th millionth time. There are a range of things you can do, use your time productively or just indulge in a little me time. The following six suggestions are your survival guide to enduring long haul flights;

1. Kindle’s are great for travelling and commuting, whether you’re on the tube or a 18 hour flight to Hong Kong they’re light, easy to use and can store a lot more books then you could ever possibly carry. Taking a kindle is a great way to get around the weight limit too, and it doesn’t force you to select a single book- as they’re all at the palm of your hand, affording you a wide selection and choice.
2. A good set of headphones goes a long way on flights. Don’t let snippets of other people’s conversations, or the booming sound of someone snoring next to you ruin your flight. Being sat next to a young child or a crying baby can make the flight an absolute nightmare. With a decent pair of headphones you can banish all other sounds and restore yourself to a calmer place, making the long flight more bearable.
3. More air lines are jumping on the bandwagon and installing wifi, so soon you’ll be able to carry on business as usual. Check email, stream films, do work whilst flying, making the ride nothing more then a temporary office space.
4. Portable games are a great suggestion for anyone who is travelling with small kids, after sitting in the same for a long period of time kids will become restless and make a fuss. The last thing you want to endure on a long fight is disturbed child, so make sure you keep their minds off the time, and keep them distracted. A number of games come in travel size, such as Scrabble. Alternatively keep them occupied with a Nintendo, something small, light and handy.
5. Stock up on magazines and newspapers and get your daily fix of news. Interrogate the travel section for any last minute tips you could pick up about where you’re going!
6. Do little exercises to prevent cramping of any area of your body, sitting still for so long can be bad for your joints, and after landing you’re going to need all the strength you can muster to make your way through the hustle and bustle of an airport.

Elle works for No1 Traveller as a travel writer.

The Three Best Things to Do in Dahlonega, Georgia
There are numerous things to do in this town, and it was difficult to pick only three. From experience, panning for gold and gems at Crisson Gold Mine is the best thing to do in Dahlonega. It was established in 1847 as an open pit gold mine in the gold rush, and is the oldest gold mining establishment in North Georgia. Panning for gold and gems is fun for the whole family because you never know what you might find. You always get something from panning as well, whether it be a gem, or a piece of gold. Anything you find there is yours to keep, big or small. Another great thing to do in Dahlonega is touring the Consolidated Gold Mines. The Consolidated Gold Mines were built in the early 1900′s and were the biggest gold mining mill east of the Mississippi. Some of the original mills are gone, but the tunnels below have rock bearing gold, and are fillde with history and mystery. The third best thing to do is visit the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve. The Preserve has over 100 animals that you can view and even feed. It is slow paced, and meant to be strolled through, not really rushed. It is tons of fun for all ages, and you learn lots. There are many places to go and many things to do in this little town, but those are the three best.

How Much Do Things Cost in Dahlonega?
In Dahlonega, most restaurants, wineries, and other attractions are moderately priced. Most attractions are priced per person, but if you have a large group, many sites have group specials. All in all, prices here range from relatively cheap to somewhat expensive.

My Favorite Restaurant in Dahlonega
The Oar House is the very best restaurant in all of the town. The food is delicious and always fresh, the service is always great, and they have some of the best adult beverages. They have internation beer, Lagers, Micro Brews, and Ales, as well as a fine selection of red and white wines. The best dish is the Prime Rib. It is always delicious and succulent. The best dessert is the key lime pie, without a doubt. No matter what I order at this restaurant, I am never disappointed.

Dahlonega, Georgia is a little slice of heaven. Located in the North Georgia Mountains, this town has tons of restaurants, attractions, and historical venues for anyone looking for fun. Pricing is pretty low around the city, and everyone is nice. Your adventure in Dahlonega awaits!

3 best things to do in Toronto

The Beaches
The Beaches is an upper class neighbourhood between Queen Street East and Lake Ontario. There is actually a beach in the Beaches, and a boardwalk by the lake. There are many unique shops on Queen St, less than a five minute walk from the beach. One of my favourite shops is the Big Dog Bakery, which makes amazing treats for pets. As many people who live in the beaches have dogs, in the summer a lot of shops have bowls of water for dogs outside, though most of them don’t allow dogs into the store.

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The Distillery District
Located near Front and Parliament, the Distillery District is fast becoming the place to be in Toronto. Opened originally in 1837, the distillery is steeped in history, and the architecture is still one of the main attractions. I love checking out the artist galleries, and having coffee in the cafes. My favourite thing about the Distillery is Soma Chocolate and Gelato. The Mayan Hot Chocolate is to die for, and you can watch the chocolate being made! While looking is free, eating and shopping can be expensive. Known for being a great place to film movies, over 1700 films have used the Distillery as a backdrop. Dance theatres, live shows, and living in the Distillery are becoming more popular every day.

Kensington Market
Kensington is my very favourite place in Toronto. The Blue Banana Market has everything you could ever want, from jewellery hand made by local artists, to handbags, clothes, house decor, and toys for kids of all ages. A short walk from Chinatown, Kensington is bustling with activity and people, especially on the weekends. There are very few places to park, so taking public transit is a great alternative to driving. Wanda’s Pie in the sky serves amazing desserts and coffee, but there isn’t much space to sit and enjoy it. There is always something new to discover in Kensington Market.

How much things cost in Toronto
A world class city can come with world class prices. Dinner and a show in the entertainment district can run upwards of five hundred dollars. Shopping at the Eaton Centre or at the Beaches can cause a very expensive day. At the same time there are great deals to be found in Chinatown, on Queen Street West or on Yonge Street. There are a lot of places to go window shopping, and a lot of things that don’t cost a cent. Toronto can be done on any budget.

My favourite cafe in Toronto
My favourite cafe in Toronto is Snakes and Lattes, a cafe/restaurant just west of Bathurst on Bloor. Snakes and Lattes is a one of a kind board game cafe. They have over two thousand games to choose from. For five dollars, you can sit and play board games all day. They serve sandwiches, snacks like muffins and squares, and drinks of all kinds, from cappuccino and lattes to wine and beer; but you don’t have to buy anything to play.
The staff is incredibly knowledgeable about the games in stock. They can recommend, and help you learn to play the games as well. Snakes and Lattes books up fast, often weeks in advanced (especially on weekends), so make sure you reserve a table, otherwise you may be forced to wait for a couple of hours, or not get a table at all. If you do need to wait to get in, Korean Village Restaurant is a block east and has excellent Korean food. Since Snakes and Lattes is open until two or three am, it is a great place for an afternoon with children, or a late night with friends.

Toronto has something to offer for everyone, and every budget. There are art galleries, museums, zoos, and even nature areas like High Park, and the downtown University of Toronto campus. There are night clubs for all ages, and all styles of music. With a constantly changing atmosphere, you can spend your entire life in Toronto and not get bored!

My three favorite things to do in Marshall

1. One of the many things that I love about my small town of Marshall, is there are so many events that occur on the weekends, especially in the summer. These events are usually one to two days long and there is usually something for everyone in my family. We love to go downtown to see the various car shows, music festivals, parades, and even a couple of marathon runs.

2. My family loves to walk the main street of Marshall where the many nastalgic antique shops are located as well as a variety of other businesses. We like to step back in time as we look at all of the history these shops have to offer.

3. While we are out, we almost always make a point to stop and see some of the area’s history. We go to local museums and look at the historic buildings and homes, of which there are many.

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How much things cost in Marshall

Like anywhere else, prices in Marshall can vary greatly depending on where in town you go. If you are a smoker asking around for the cheapest place to go could save you $2 or more. Cigarettes cost about $6 to $7 a pack on average.

Gas prices, however, are generally within a few cents of being the same. In Marshall, gas is usually at least five cents cheaper than the surrounding area.

The many restaurants and accommodations in Marshall have quite a range of price and depends on what you want. We have stayed in a hotel once when we lost power and another time just to get away from home for a night and both stays in two different hotels were under $100 for a basic two queen-sized beds and a chair room.

My favorite place in Marshall

Of all of the places to go, sights to see, and things to do in Marshall, my favorite place in Marshall is the Brooks memorial fountain. It’s a place that you can have a picnic, watch the traffic or an event, or just sit back and relax while you listen to the water.

The Brooks memorial fountain is located in the middle of a round-a-bout on the west side of downtown Marshall. It was a gift to the city and has been wonderfully restored along with a beautiful l.e.d. lights display.

It is how any resident of Marshall begins to give directions because we all know the fountain. Businesses advertise their directions beginning at the fountian. It is truly something that we are all proud of and enjoy.

The truly wonderful thing about Marshall is that it is up to you if you want to fill your weekend with stuff to do or just walk around and take in the beautiful historic sights that surround you.